Device for holding and positioning railroad spikes



Jan. 5, 1937.

Filed May 12, 1953 Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEDEVICE FOR HOLDING AND POSITIONING RAILROAD SPIKES 10 Claims.

This invention has to do with railroad track construction and relates tothe method and manner of holding and positioning the railroad railspikes and tie plates when they are used, so as to permit the track tobe raised and lowered during the passage of a train without withdrawingthe spikes but at the same time insuring that the rail will be preventedfrom misplacement or displacement.

The particular. object of this invention 1s the provision of a separateelement which may be used in combination with a tie, tie plate and spiketo hold the spike in proper position relative to the tie plate and theflange of the railroad rail.

Another object is the provision of an element adapted for use incombination with a tie and spike for holding thespike in proper positionrelative to the tie and the flange of the track.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as mayhereinafter appear, this invention consists in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and thensought to be defined in the appended claims, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing forming a part hereof and which shows merely forthe purpose of illustrative disclosure various embodiments of myinvention, it being expressly understood however, that various changesmay be made in practice within the scope of the claims withoutdigressing from my inventive idea.

In the drawing- Figure' 1 represents a perspective view of a railroadtie, tie plate and rail with my invention in use.

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse cross section of the same.

Figure 3.is a perspective view of one form of one of the devices asshown in its proper position relative tothe spike.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of another form of one of the devices.

Figure 5 represents a partial transverse cross section of a modifiedform of construction in which the spacer member rests on top of the tieand is not driven into the tie as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 represents a front elevation view of a modified form, partsbeing shown in section to facilitate the disclosure, where the spacermember is positioned at the front of the spike and no tie plate is used;and,

Figure '7 represents a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure6, parts being shown in section to facilitate the disclosure.

According to my invention it is the purpose to lay railroad rails tohave the rails ride so that the spikes when driven home will not contactdirectly with the top surface of the bottom flange of the rail, that is,the head of the spike will be spaced from engagement with this flange.The purpose of this arrangement is to permit the rail to move up anddown during the passage of the cars over the rail without withdrawing orloosening the spike and at the same time having the spike head in suchposition as to prevent the rail from being raised up too much or frommoving or turning or twisting sidewise to an improper position or out ofalinement. This result has been accomplished in various ways. Thisinvention is directed to a new means for accomplishing this result andincludes means embodying a separate element or device which will notonly hold the spike in proper relative position to the rail but willalso assist in holding the tie plate in engagement with the tie.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral I designates a railroad tie, 2designates a tie plate of standard construction and 3 designates arailroad rail of standard construction. This rail has the bottom flange4 adapted to rest upon the tie plate between the upwardly extended ribsor flanges 5 thereof. The tie plate is provided with suitable apertures6 to receive the spike I. This spike I is provided with a head 8 havingthe forward overhanging or projecting portion 9 and a rear overhangingor projecting portion or shoulder I0. spike is adapted to be driven intoa tie with the overhanging portion 9 of the head over the flange 4 ofthe rail. Previously the head 8 of the spike engaged the upper surfaceof the flange 4 directly, but as stated before, according to myinvention, the spikes are driven so that a space is left between thehead 8 and the overhanging portion 9 thereof and the upper surface ofthe flange 4 of the rail.

The'reference character I I generally designates a device or element orspacer member which cooperates with the tie, tie plate and spike. topositively hold the spike in proper position with respect to the rail.When no tie plate is used, the spacer member cooperates with the tie andspike to positively hold the spike in proper position. This element orspacer member may take several forms, some of which are illustrated inthe drawing. It includes essentially a body portion of sufficient lengthto extend into the aperture 6.,

As above set forth the of the tie plate and to engage under the rearoverhanging portion or shoulder III or front overhanging portion 9 ofthe spike, said body portion being provided with some means for engagingpart of the tie or tie plate to operate as a positive stop to' limit thedistance to which the element or device I I can be driven into the tieor through the tie plate. Different thicknesses of spacer members may beused as it may be desirable to make the member heavier so that it is alarger factor in holding the tie plate down.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the element I Icomprises an elongated flat plate body having an upper portion I2, theupper end,

of which is adapted to engage under the rear overhanging portion orshoulder ID of the spike I. The upper end of element I I may engage theside or .front projecting portions of the spike. When the element isplaced in front of the spike, the lifev of the spike .is lengthenedbecause the element is interposed between the .flange of the rail andthe spike. The lower portion I3 of the body is adapted to extend throughthe aperture 6 in the tie plate and into the tie and is pro- Videdwith.the beveled or sharpened edge I4 to cause the same totend to moveinwardly or toward the spike at all times. This lowerportion I3 may beof such length as to correspond with the thickness of thetie plate onlyand does'not have to extend into the tie as shown in Figure 5. Theengagement of the sides of thelower portion I3 with the sides of theaperture 6 will hold the element in position in cooperation with theengagement of the shoulder-portions I5 of the element with the top ofthe tie plate. In the form shown in Figure 3 these shoulders areprovided with portions extending laterally from the body of the elementII. of course-theseprojections may extend in difierent directions and.may be formed by striking up portions of thebody of the element as wellas in various other ways.

Another form is illustrated in Figure 4 where the element I6 isgenerally in the form of an angle shaped member having the body I!adapted to haveits upper portion engage underneath the used-with the twochannel flanges cut-ofi to provide two shoulders or abutments. v

In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and '7 the spacer'member or elementengages under the front overhanging or projecting portion 9 of thespike. The spacer member or elementis formed from sheet metal and hasthe body member 20 and flanges 2 I. which are cut from'the body member20 and bent ba'ckt'o form shoulders which may embrace the spike. Thelower end of the body 20 is beveled as at 22. The front portion 23 ofthe spacer member is adapted to'en gage, the flange 4 of the rail andthe front of the spike and protect the spike from Wear. The device ofthis form may also be made of malleable orother cast metal. V

It is to be expressly understood that I am not to be limited to theforms shown. as the spacer The right angle flange is members may take avariety of shapes'and forms. If necessary, the heel of the spike may bethickened for special purposes or for ordinary use. Also, I am not to belimited to the tie plate shown, for the invention is adapted for usewith any form of tie plate. My invention is adapted for use at thefront, side or rear of the spike and with or without a tie plate.

Using the spacer member gives the spike a better bearing by filling upthe space between the spike and the back portion of the hole in the tieplate, or for giving the spike a snug fit in the plate or tie whethernew or old parts are used. Also when the hole in the tie plate becomesenlarged because of corrosion orwear, a new thicker member may besubstituted for the old spacer. The old spike or a new spike may beused. If the spacer is made long enough, it can also serve to give atight fit to a spike driven inan old hole in the tie which is. enlargedby wearor decay.

In operation these devices are used as follows:

The spike may be partially driven intocthe tie and then the elementordevice I I is placed in position in back of the spike and with itsupper end in engagement with the rear overhanging portion or shoulderII) of the spike head and asthe spike is driven through the tie plate itis alsodriven' into the tie until the shoulders or abutmentsL l5, en;gage the top of the tie plates which limit 'the' 'inward movement of thespike and positions; the head of the spike the proper distance frornthetop of the rail flange. Or the spacer element may be driven in first andthen the spike driven into the tie. If the member is the one shown inFigure 5 it is placed in the tie plate in position before the spikeisdriven home intoithe' tie.

When no tie plate is used, the shoulders ofithe member engage the: topof..the tie. Also the spacer member may be placed at the front or sideof the spike and when .,in. front itprotects the spike from wear. Theelement maybe ofsufficient size so that it has substantial engagementwith the side faces of the tie plate formed by the aperture therethroughso as to assist in holding the parts in-proper position. Asstated in thespecification, the lower portion of the. element may be beveled orsharpened so as to tend to be forced inwardly which will also cooperatein locking and holding the parts together.

WhatIclaim is: I 1. In combination .with .a railroad rail, a tie and atie plate having an'aperture a spike having a head and. an .elementpositioned in the aperture in the tie plate and along the spike and z;

engaging the head thereof, said element being provided with a stopor-abutment. to engagethe tie plate and thus limit the extent towhichthe spike, can be driven into. the tie. I

2. In combination with a railroad rail, and a tie plate having an-aperture, aspike having ahead, and an element positioned in theaperture in the tie plate and. along the spike and engaging the headthereof said element having a portion of substantially the same widthasa tie" head of the spike, said element being provided with a stop orabutment intermediate its ends for engaging the tie plate to limit theextent to which the spike can be driven into the tie.

4. The combination with a railroad rail, a tie plate, a tie and a spike,of means for holding the spike so that the head thereof is spaced fromthe top of the bottom flange of the rail, said means including anelement having its top portion engaging a shoulder on the head of thespike, and having a stop or abutment intermediate its ends adapted forengagement with the top of the tie plate.

5. In combination with a railroad rail, a tie, and a tie plate having aspike aperture, a spike having a head provided with a shoulder, and anelement having a portion positioned in the aperture in the tie plate andbeing positioned along the spike, said element having its top portionengaging the shoulder on the head and being provided with a stop orabutment intermediate its ends to engage the top of the tie plate andlimit the extent to which the spike can be driven into the tie.

6. In combination with a railroad rail, a tie, and a tie plate having aspike aperture, a spike having a head provided with a shoulder and anelement having a. portion positioned in the aperture in the tie plateand being positioned along the spike, said element having its topportion engaging the shoulder on the head and being provided with a stopor abutment intermediate its ends to engage the top of the tie plate andlimit the extent to which the spike can be driven into the tie, saidelement also being provided with a beveled lower edge to force theelement to move inwardly and toward the spike and lock and hold theparts securely together.

7. In combination with a railroad rail, 2. tie, and a tie plate having aspike aperture, a spike having a head provided with a shoulder, and anelement having a portion positioned in the aperture in the tie plate andbeing positioned along the spike to make a snug fit for the spike in thetie plate when new or when the tie plate aperture has become enlarged bycorrosion or wear, said element having a portion engaging the shoulderon the head and having a stop or abutment for engaging the top of thetie plate and limit the extent to which the spike can be driven into thetie, said element also being provided with a beveled lower edge to forcethe element to move inwardly and toward the spike and lock and hold theparts securely together.

8. In combination with a railroad rail and a tie, a spike having a head,and an element positioned along the spike adapted to contact the spikeand having its top portion engaging the head of the spike, said elementbeing provided with a stop or abutment for engaging the tie and limitingthe extent to which the spike can be driven into the tie.

9. In combination with a railroad rail, a tie and a tie plate having anaperture, a spike having a head and an element positioned in theaperture in the tie plate and along the rear of the spike and engagingthe head thereof, said element being provided with a stop or abutment toengage the tie plate and thus limit the extent to which the spike can bedriven into the tie, said element also being provided with a beveledlower edge to force the element to move inwardly and toward the spikeand lock and hold the parts securely together.

10. In combination with a railroad rail having a flange, a tie, a tieplate on said tie and having an aperture and means for receiving saidrail flange, a spike positioned in said aperture and having a headadapted to be spaced from said rail flange, and an element positioned insaid aperture of said tie plate and engaging the head of the spike, saidspike being adapted to prevent removal of said rail from said receivingmeans in said tie plate, said element being provided with an abutmentextending beyond said aperture in said tie plate to engage said tieplate and so limit the extent to which the spike can be driven into thetie.

JAMES W. AMES.

